Some 150 jobs are to be created with the expansion of two companies in Dublin and Galway.

Technology firm Marsh & McLennan said it will take on 100 "highly skilled" recruits at its new innovation centre in the capital.

Dan Glaser, chief executive, said the plant would help it develop data-based analysis software.

"With nearly 600 employees in Ireland, Marsh & McLennan has benefited over the last four and a half decades from the skilled and global workforce in Ireland and the country's culture of advancing technology and innovation," he added.

The company has been in Ireland since 1971.

Separately, online shopping site Shopify said it is looking to hire 50 people by next year as it expands its customer service operations in Galway.

Headquartered in Canada, Shopify employs 600 staff.

Roy Sunstrum, customer support director of the company, said he was looking for "remote gurus" in Ireland to support its services in countries worldwide in a number of time zones.

"Ireland has become a major tech hub and the level of talent is what really drew us to the region," he said.